Research on Tourist Activity in Europe – Methodological Aspects and Results (Part I: the Period 1945-2000)
Journal Title: Folia Turistica - Year 2018, Vol 46, Issue
Abstract
Purpose. Analysis of research studies on tourism related activity carried out in various European countries in the period from the end of WWII to the end of the 20th century. The study embraced both the research methods and techniques, as well as the ways of expressing tourism activity, making an attempt at comparing the findings of various studies in each case (both on the domestic and international scale).<br/><br/>Method. The basic method used in the study was complex analysis of scientific literature pertaining to the research on tourism related activity (published in Polish, English, German and French), where focus was on research methodology. Also, the findings of the analysed studies were investigated to a certain degree, which – despite some limitations of research comparability – indicated serious disproportions in the level of tourism related activity among the inhabitants of particular countries.<br/><br/>Findings. The study indicated that the great majority of research carried out within the entire analysed period of time embraced surveys with a great heterogeneity of research methods and techniques, non-uniform terminology, as well as various different criteria and typologies of tourism activity. The study also revealed a great variety of used indicators (measures), which made proper diagnosis of the phenomenon and interpretation of the results additionally difficult. Hence, it impeded the potential use of research results in practical activity.<br/><br/>Research limitations and conclusions. The paper presents the analyses of research studies carried out until the year 2000. A similar study, based on the scientific literature published already in the 21st century, is in preparation.<br/><br/>Practical implications. The current study shows that at the end of the analysed period, traditional research methods and indices determining the level of participation in tourism (e.g. tourism activity rate) often did not allow for proper market analyses and required serious improvement (particularly in relation to research comparability and results obtained by various institutions). Reliable research studies have always been largely expected by the widely understood tourism branch as such data constitute a crucial factor not only in their current activity but also in strategic planning.<br/><br/>Originality. The paper presents one of the most comprehensive overviews of research studies on tourism activity, particularly in relation to the analyses of research methodology on this subject matter. New estimation methods and genuine indices of tourism-related activity were also proposed in the study, taking the hitherto mentioned conditions into consideration.<br/><br/>Type of paper. The paper is an overview analysing the findings of numerous empirical studies.<br/><br/>
Authors and Affiliations
Wiesław Alejziak
Keywords
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- EP ID EP346492
- DOI 10.5604/01.3001.0012.0842
- Views 46
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